DRINKING WATER - PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
Planning
WATER COMPANIES
and design
cascade pre-filtration pre-filtration activated UV- clear water
buffer carbon filter disinfection storage
34.00+
25.7+ (max) 30.8+ (max)
31.5+
25.3+ (min) 30.5+ (min)
32.00+
28.6+ (max)
28.2+ (max)
26.5+ (max)
28.3+ (min)
30.00+ 25.8+ (min)
27.1+ (min)
28.00+
26.00+
field level
24.00+
groundwater level
22.00+
capacity
over capacity
reserve
gross water demand time
net water demand
capacity
,PLANNING AND DESIGN WATER COMPANIES
Framework
This module focuses on the planning and design aspects for constructing of the infrastructure for the
public water supply. The main issue in this respect is the design of a production plant.
Introduction
This module has the following contents:
1. Introduction
2. Planning process for public water supply
2.1 Process scheme
2.2 Policy plan for drinking and industrial water supply
2.3 The Association of Dutch Water Companies’ ten-year plan
2.4 Provincial planning
2.5 Municipal planning
2.6 Company planning
3. Design activities in the infrastructure’s life cycle
3.1 Overview of the infrastructure’s life cycle
3.2 Identification
3.3 Definition
3.4 Design
3.5 Contract
3.6 Construction
3.7 Start-up
3.8 Operation
3.9 Demolition
4. Laws, permits and standards
4.1 Laws and permits
4.2 Standards
5. The practice of designing
5.1 Preliminary studies
5.2 Sketch design and building scheme
5.3 Preliminary design
5.4 Final design and detailed design
5.5 Construction and start-up
Literature and websites
Questions and applications
Answers
Study goals
After having studied this module, you will be able to:
• identify the different planning processes
• identify the different parts of the design process
• describe, explain and draw up the most important documents needed for the design
120
,WATER COMPANIES PLANNING AND DESIGN
1. Introduction obstructed or compromised during construction of
the new infrastructure.
Extensive preparations are necessary in order
to build drinking water production plants. The This module will address design aspects for
government plays an important role in this plan- (re)construction of drinking water infrastructure.
ning process, as public health is one of the main First, the planning process for public water supply
issues concerned. However, water companies are will be presented, ranging from national long-term
responsible for the construction and operation of plans to internal management plans for drinking
the infrastructure. water companies. It will continue by focusing on
the infrastructure’s life cycle, paying special atten-
Usually, it takes many years from the time the tion to the design aspects of drinking water pro-
first idea for expanding water production facilities duction facilities. Further on, the laws, permits and
comes up, until the completion and start-up of standards applying mainly to drinking water supply
the new plant. During this period, a highly diverse will be described. Finally, the different parts of the
development process is carried out, involving design process will be examined in more detail.
many different specialties. Among these are:
• mathematics (probability theory)
• treatment technology (physics, chemistry, 2. Planning process for public water
microbiology) supply
• environmental science
• geohydrology (groundwater) 2.1 Process scheme
• hydrology (surface water) The planning process for a public water supply is
• hydraulics (fluid mechanics) embedded in the general spatial planning process.
• structural engineering (concrete, steel) The primary structure of and the hierarchy in this
• architecture process in the Netherlands are summarized in
• mechanical engineering Table 1. Of course, the planning process needs to
• electrical engineering comply with the legal framework and show mutual
• process control engineering (instrumentation) consistency. As a legal framework, the Water
• law (property rights, user rights, contracts) Supply Act is especially important.
• economics (project finance, payments)
Within the Water Supply Act, a Committee for
As a consequence of so many specialities being drinking water supply has been formed, which
involved, expansion of the infrastructucture for has to supervise all aspects concerning the public
drinking water production requires a multi-disci- drinking water supply. This Committee is mainly
plinary approach. To have a successful project, advisory, but can operate as a mediator as well.
organization is of critical importance. The complex-
ity of the project is further increased by the fact
that the existing public water supply must not be
Table 1 - Hierarchical planning process for the public drinking water supply in the Netherlands
Planning level Name Timeframe (years) Organization
National policy plan Policy plan for drinking and industrial water supply 20 – 30 Ministry VROM
National section plan Ten-year plan 5 – 10 VEWIN
Provincial plan Provincial policy plans 5 – 10 Province
Provincial management plans 5 – 10 Province
Regional plan Regional plans 5 – 10 Province
Municipal plan Land use plans 5 – 10 Municipality
Company plan Water supply plan 10 – 30 Company
Multi-year investment plan 5 – 10 Company
Business plan 5 Company
121
, PLANNING AND DESIGN WATER COMPANIES
2.2 Policy plan for drinking and industrial 2.3 Association of Dutch Water
water supply Companies’ ten-year plan
The process of formulating the policy plan for The procedure for formulating the Association of
drinking and industrial water supply is recorded Dutch Water Companies’ ten-year plan is recorded
in the Water Supply Act (Chapter 4 - Preparation in the Water Supply Act. The plan is referred to by
and accomplishment of water supply works - first law as a “medium-term plan” to be drawn up by a
part). “representative association of water companies”
(Chapter 4 - Preparation and construction of water
The national policy plan for drinking and indus- works - second part).
trial water supply is a sector plan on a national
level, and includes background information and The ten-year plan is a medium-term plan that
preferences for the desired long-term strategic is prepared by the Association of Dutch Water
development. Companies (VEWIN). When the Water Supply Act
The policy plan makes a long-term estimate was first adopted, it was unusual to have such a
of future water needs, typically for a period of national plan formulated by the involved compa-
approximately 30 years. A description is made of nies and regulated in this way by law. Nowadays,
the available water resources from both ground- the “retreating government’ policy has caused this
and surface water, including the advantages and kind of regulation to be used more often.
disadvantages concerning public health, spatial All projects for the abstraction, storage and trans-
planning, the environment, the economy, and so portation of water that the water companies intend
on. Policy choices and priority settings are made to undertake in the coming ten years should be
with respect to the above aspects. Finally, the recorded in this plan. Studies and research pro-
plan indicates what efforts will be undertaken to grams which will be executed over the same period
safeguard the drinking and industrial water sup- should also be recorded. In this way, all water com-
ply over the relevant 30-year period, with regard panies are closely involved in the integral planning
to the available water resources. Together with process, because the companies themselves are
some policy statements, this plan forms a national expected to take the lead in proposing and prepar-
spatial planning key decision. ing new projects.
The policy plan has a dual effect. First, it indicates
land claims for spatial planning and water man- The proposed ten-year plan is presented to the
agement. These claims should be considered minister for Housing, Spatial Planning and the
when appropriating land and water on national, Environment for authorization. In deciding whether
provincial and municipal levels. Second, the policy the plan will be approved, the minister needs to
plan guides the water supply sector. Only in urgent consider the policy plan.
situations are the water companies allowed to
deviate from this plan. The period from the 1970s to the 1990s saw the
heyday of the ten-year plan, when over 100 (mainly
The procedure for preparing a policy plan is regu- municipal) water companies existed. Today, most
lated, in large part, by the Spatial Planning Act. water companies operate on the provincial, or
This procedure is comparable to the process of even super-provincial, level. This causes the chief
adopting a new regulation: aim of the ten-year plan - fine tuning the produc-
- preparation of a draft plan in interdepartmental tion capacity of the different water companies - to
consultation decline. Thus, the importance of the ten-year plan
- publication of the draft plan; inviting response has decreased and part of its goal is now absorbed
- authorization by the Second and First Chambers by policy plans of either the provinces or the indi-
of the Dutch Parliament vidual companies.
122
Planning
WATER COMPANIES
and design
cascade pre-filtration pre-filtration activated UV- clear water
buffer carbon filter disinfection storage
34.00+
25.7+ (max) 30.8+ (max)
31.5+
25.3+ (min) 30.5+ (min)
32.00+
28.6+ (max)
28.2+ (max)
26.5+ (max)
28.3+ (min)
30.00+ 25.8+ (min)
27.1+ (min)
28.00+
26.00+
field level
24.00+
groundwater level
22.00+
capacity
over capacity
reserve
gross water demand time
net water demand
capacity
,PLANNING AND DESIGN WATER COMPANIES
Framework
This module focuses on the planning and design aspects for constructing of the infrastructure for the
public water supply. The main issue in this respect is the design of a production plant.
Introduction
This module has the following contents:
1. Introduction
2. Planning process for public water supply
2.1 Process scheme
2.2 Policy plan for drinking and industrial water supply
2.3 The Association of Dutch Water Companies’ ten-year plan
2.4 Provincial planning
2.5 Municipal planning
2.6 Company planning
3. Design activities in the infrastructure’s life cycle
3.1 Overview of the infrastructure’s life cycle
3.2 Identification
3.3 Definition
3.4 Design
3.5 Contract
3.6 Construction
3.7 Start-up
3.8 Operation
3.9 Demolition
4. Laws, permits and standards
4.1 Laws and permits
4.2 Standards
5. The practice of designing
5.1 Preliminary studies
5.2 Sketch design and building scheme
5.3 Preliminary design
5.4 Final design and detailed design
5.5 Construction and start-up
Literature and websites
Questions and applications
Answers
Study goals
After having studied this module, you will be able to:
• identify the different planning processes
• identify the different parts of the design process
• describe, explain and draw up the most important documents needed for the design
120
,WATER COMPANIES PLANNING AND DESIGN
1. Introduction obstructed or compromised during construction of
the new infrastructure.
Extensive preparations are necessary in order
to build drinking water production plants. The This module will address design aspects for
government plays an important role in this plan- (re)construction of drinking water infrastructure.
ning process, as public health is one of the main First, the planning process for public water supply
issues concerned. However, water companies are will be presented, ranging from national long-term
responsible for the construction and operation of plans to internal management plans for drinking
the infrastructure. water companies. It will continue by focusing on
the infrastructure’s life cycle, paying special atten-
Usually, it takes many years from the time the tion to the design aspects of drinking water pro-
first idea for expanding water production facilities duction facilities. Further on, the laws, permits and
comes up, until the completion and start-up of standards applying mainly to drinking water supply
the new plant. During this period, a highly diverse will be described. Finally, the different parts of the
development process is carried out, involving design process will be examined in more detail.
many different specialties. Among these are:
• mathematics (probability theory)
• treatment technology (physics, chemistry, 2. Planning process for public water
microbiology) supply
• environmental science
• geohydrology (groundwater) 2.1 Process scheme
• hydrology (surface water) The planning process for a public water supply is
• hydraulics (fluid mechanics) embedded in the general spatial planning process.
• structural engineering (concrete, steel) The primary structure of and the hierarchy in this
• architecture process in the Netherlands are summarized in
• mechanical engineering Table 1. Of course, the planning process needs to
• electrical engineering comply with the legal framework and show mutual
• process control engineering (instrumentation) consistency. As a legal framework, the Water
• law (property rights, user rights, contracts) Supply Act is especially important.
• economics (project finance, payments)
Within the Water Supply Act, a Committee for
As a consequence of so many specialities being drinking water supply has been formed, which
involved, expansion of the infrastructucture for has to supervise all aspects concerning the public
drinking water production requires a multi-disci- drinking water supply. This Committee is mainly
plinary approach. To have a successful project, advisory, but can operate as a mediator as well.
organization is of critical importance. The complex-
ity of the project is further increased by the fact
that the existing public water supply must not be
Table 1 - Hierarchical planning process for the public drinking water supply in the Netherlands
Planning level Name Timeframe (years) Organization
National policy plan Policy plan for drinking and industrial water supply 20 – 30 Ministry VROM
National section plan Ten-year plan 5 – 10 VEWIN
Provincial plan Provincial policy plans 5 – 10 Province
Provincial management plans 5 – 10 Province
Regional plan Regional plans 5 – 10 Province
Municipal plan Land use plans 5 – 10 Municipality
Company plan Water supply plan 10 – 30 Company
Multi-year investment plan 5 – 10 Company
Business plan 5 Company
121
, PLANNING AND DESIGN WATER COMPANIES
2.2 Policy plan for drinking and industrial 2.3 Association of Dutch Water
water supply Companies’ ten-year plan
The process of formulating the policy plan for The procedure for formulating the Association of
drinking and industrial water supply is recorded Dutch Water Companies’ ten-year plan is recorded
in the Water Supply Act (Chapter 4 - Preparation in the Water Supply Act. The plan is referred to by
and accomplishment of water supply works - first law as a “medium-term plan” to be drawn up by a
part). “representative association of water companies”
(Chapter 4 - Preparation and construction of water
The national policy plan for drinking and indus- works - second part).
trial water supply is a sector plan on a national
level, and includes background information and The ten-year plan is a medium-term plan that
preferences for the desired long-term strategic is prepared by the Association of Dutch Water
development. Companies (VEWIN). When the Water Supply Act
The policy plan makes a long-term estimate was first adopted, it was unusual to have such a
of future water needs, typically for a period of national plan formulated by the involved compa-
approximately 30 years. A description is made of nies and regulated in this way by law. Nowadays,
the available water resources from both ground- the “retreating government’ policy has caused this
and surface water, including the advantages and kind of regulation to be used more often.
disadvantages concerning public health, spatial All projects for the abstraction, storage and trans-
planning, the environment, the economy, and so portation of water that the water companies intend
on. Policy choices and priority settings are made to undertake in the coming ten years should be
with respect to the above aspects. Finally, the recorded in this plan. Studies and research pro-
plan indicates what efforts will be undertaken to grams which will be executed over the same period
safeguard the drinking and industrial water sup- should also be recorded. In this way, all water com-
ply over the relevant 30-year period, with regard panies are closely involved in the integral planning
to the available water resources. Together with process, because the companies themselves are
some policy statements, this plan forms a national expected to take the lead in proposing and prepar-
spatial planning key decision. ing new projects.
The policy plan has a dual effect. First, it indicates
land claims for spatial planning and water man- The proposed ten-year plan is presented to the
agement. These claims should be considered minister for Housing, Spatial Planning and the
when appropriating land and water on national, Environment for authorization. In deciding whether
provincial and municipal levels. Second, the policy the plan will be approved, the minister needs to
plan guides the water supply sector. Only in urgent consider the policy plan.
situations are the water companies allowed to
deviate from this plan. The period from the 1970s to the 1990s saw the
heyday of the ten-year plan, when over 100 (mainly
The procedure for preparing a policy plan is regu- municipal) water companies existed. Today, most
lated, in large part, by the Spatial Planning Act. water companies operate on the provincial, or
This procedure is comparable to the process of even super-provincial, level. This causes the chief
adopting a new regulation: aim of the ten-year plan - fine tuning the produc-
- preparation of a draft plan in interdepartmental tion capacity of the different water companies - to
consultation decline. Thus, the importance of the ten-year plan
- publication of the draft plan; inviting response has decreased and part of its goal is now absorbed
- authorization by the Second and First Chambers by policy plans of either the provinces or the indi-
of the Dutch Parliament vidual companies.
122
